SPARTANBURG, S.C. – After two hard-fought games in the 2012 Atlantic Sun Tournament, Lipscomb softball takes the field Friday needing a win against second-seeded Kennesaw State to stay alive in the double elimination tournament. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. (CT) at USC Upstate’s Cyrill Stadium.

The Lady Bisons dropped the tournament opener to Jacksonville 2-1 back on Wednesday despite a complete-game effort from senior Whitney Kiihnl and a 2-for-2 day at the plate by senior Mollie Mitchell. Sophomore Haley Elliott’s solo home run accounted for the lone run of the day for the Lady Bisons.

The Lady Bisons actually out-hit Jacksonville 6-4 but were undone by three fielding errors.

If the Lady Bisons were despondent over the opening-game loss, it didn’t show on Thursday. Freshman Ashley Anderson dealt a complete-game against host USC Upstate in an 8-3 Lipscomb victory that knocked the host school out of the tournament.

Elliott and Mitchell each drove in three runs, while Kiihnl chipped in three hits from the lead-off spot. Kiihnl also tried her hand at left field for the first time in her Lipscomb career.

Errors have been an issue in the first two games. Lipscomb is fielding at a .921 clip and have committed six errors. Only two of the five runs allowed by the Lady Bisons in the first two games have been earned.

The Lady Bisons now turn their attention to Kennesaw State. Lipscomb split a road doubleheader with the Owls on April 20. Kiihnl won game one by throwing a three-hit shutout, striking out nine. Kennesaw won game two 7-1 with the Lady Bisons only able to come up with three hits.

Last time the Lady Bisons were up against Kennesaw State in the A-Sun Tournament, Mitchell was one of four Lady Bisons to homer in an 8-0 victory during the 2010 championship season.

Kennesaw State lost to Stetson in Thursday’s opening game, but staved off elimination by defeating Jacksonville 2-1 on a walk-off single by second-team all-conference performer Lindsay Vollmer.

This is the fourth season in a row Lipscomb has been one of the last four teams remaining in the A-Sun Tournament. In each of the previous three seasons, Kiihnl has earned a spot on the All-Tournament team.

If Lipscomb prevails against Kennesaw State, the Lady Bisons will move on to the finals of the losers bracket against the loser of Friday’s first game between top-seeded Florida Gulf Coast and sixth-seeded Stetson.

Live stats for today’s game will be provided by USC Upstate and ASUNTV will have the feed. An interactive live chat will take place at LipscombSports.com.